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P. WILOOMB. TAKE-UP AND TENSION DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES. No.396,907. Patented Jan. 29, 1889...

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FRANK \VILCOMB, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE \VILCOMBMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

"TAKE-"UP AND TENSION DEVICE FOR KNlTTlNG lVl/ACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,90'7, dated January29, 1889.

Application filed. April 15, 1887. Serial No. 234,943. (No modeh 1b (LZZwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK \VILCOHB, of Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Take-Up and Tension Devices forKnitting-Machines; andldohereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the same.

In the form of yarn take-up and tension device hereinafter describedapivoted sweep is employed to support and direct the yarn as it is beingfed to the needles, said sweep performing the function of taking up theyarn when it becomes slack; and in this device also an independentspring-1:)ressure plate is employed for applying a tension to the yarn,it being arranged to subject the yarn to more or less frictionalrestraint at all times to hold or to keep .it taut, and adapted to beautomatically controlled in its action upon the yarn by the movement ofthe sweep.

My object is to provide a tension device in combination with a take-uplever, but inde pendent thereof, whereby the tension on the yarn mayalways be present, and whereby a yielding pressure is appliedcontinually to allow for the passage of knots or foreign matter withoutliability of rupturing the yarn.

My invention includes the combination of a takeup lever with a springpressure plate for applying a tension to the yarn, and also thecombination, with the sweep, of a spring for giving said sweep itstakenp movement, said spring being so arranged and having suchconnection with the sweep as will cause the pull of the sweep to beexerted circumferentially or in the direction of the length of thecoils, and providing for said spring means of adjustment. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly sectional, of thesweep and the support therefor, showing also the spring for pressingupon the yarn. Fig. 2 is atransverse section through the iension devicefor the sweep-arm, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

In the drawings the take-u p sweep is shown as pivotally supported,being carried by a hub or disk, 71, which in turn is supported upon ashaft, 1', the disk being fitted loosely to the shaft, but held firmlythereto by a janrnut, 9, on the screw-threaded end, which acts to holdthe disk by pressing it hard upon the shoulder on the shaft.

It will be understood that the normal posi tion of the sweep is up, itsrising movement being limited by a stop-pimf on thebracket. This take-upmovement may be imparted to 1 the sweep by a spring or its equivalent,and,

as hereinafter set forth, a special arrangement of spring for applying apractically unvarying power to the sweep forms one of the features ofthis invention. The spring-pressure plate, which is arranged independentof the sweep and is designed for placing the yarn under tension to keepit taut as it is drawn by the needles, is shown at 5, this being securedto the supporting-bracket over the opening in the circular portion 14,and extending into close proximity to the hub on the sweep and directlyabove a bearing-surface, 8, along which the yarn passes as the machinedraws it. Its free end is in range with a pin, 12, in the face of thedisk which moves with the sweep. The yarn from the bobbin passes throughthe circular portion of the bracket, as stated, over the bearing-surfacebelow the tension-plate 5, thence clownwardly under an adjustabledirecting-bar, g, carried by a collar, g, held adjustably to thestandard a by means of screw 9 From under the directing-bar the yarnpasses through the eye in the end of the sweep. The spring tension-plate5 is designed to be in engagement with the yarn at all times and toapply a slight frictional resistance to the movement thereof when themachine is working, so as to feed the needles properly and to press uponand hold the yarn in place when the work ceases. \Vhen the yarn is drawnupon, the first effect will be to draw down the sweep f a suiiicientdistance to secure the necessary amount of movement for the take-upaction, the tension-plate 5 during this time holding the yarn againstmovement through the device and allowing it to pull down the sweep, asdescribed. The lifting-pin on the disk is so positioned that when thesweep reaches the desired position it will engage with the independenttension-plate 5 and raise it slightly to allow the yarn to move, butnot, however, to such an extent as will disengage the plate entirelyfrom the yarn, this cessation of the lifting action at the proper momentfrom the arrai'lgement of the spring described being due to the movementof the yarn, which thus-does not pull upon the sweep enough to move itfarther downward. It will be seen from this arrangement of the tensionor pressure plate independent of the sweep that the retarding actionexerted upon the yarn will be constant and controlled by the sweep tokeep the yarn just taut enough for good results, though capable of suchvariations as will permit the passage of larger port-ions of yarn orforeign particles without danger of rupture. lVhen such knots or foreignparticles are passed under the tension-plate, the l sweep will be pulledupon by reason of the movement of the yarn being retarded, and thisfurther movement of the sweep caused by the pull will lift thetension-plate farther and allow the enlarged portion to pass, after lwhich the sweep and plate will again assume the former positions tocause the necessary 5 amount of tension being applier'l. The spring- I ll l plate is fastened by a rivet to the part 123 of the bracket, andbetween this and the free end of the spring I place a screw, 15, whichmay be loosened or tightened to adjust the tension of the said spring,and thereby regulate the pressure for different conditions of work.\Vhen the take-up lever is elevated, the tension-spring bears fully uponand. holds the yarn in place.

The shaft f is journaled in a casing, 7:, formed on thesupporting-bi'acket, and in connection with the shaft I employ a springfor applying a take-up power to the sweep, the shaft forming aconnection from the said spring to the sweep through the disk h. Thespring, preferably of spiral form, is coiled about the shaft, one endbeing connected to the casing and the other to the shaft itself. It willbe seen from this that the pull of the yarn which passes from the bobbinthrough the end of the sweep will cause said sweep to move against thetension of the spring, and

the movement in'iparl'ed thereto will be in the direction of its coilsorcirmunferentially. In this way a practically unvarying take-up poweris applied to the sweep, whether it be in its upward or downwardposition.

I have made provision for adjusting the tension applied to the sweep bythe spring to suit different coi'n'litions of the work, and foraccomplishing this adjustment the relative positions of the sweep andshaft are changed; but the sweep always assumes the same normal positionand is free to move throughthe same stroke. The end of the shaft isprovided with a thumb-nut, l0, and by loosening the jam-nut 0, whichpresses against the disk, either the shaft or the sweep may be turned tothe right or left, thus changing the relation existing between theseparts to increase or diminish the tension of the spring, and, stillholding them in this adjusted relation, the jam-nut 9 may be turned tofix the disk carrying the sweep rigidly to the shaft. The

supporting-bracket consists of a circular portion, 1%, provided with alateral extension, 13, and a bearing, (Z, which is adapted to fit upon asupporting-bar, l). The bearing (1 is split, as shown, so as to becapable of being clamped upon the bar I), and the screw 0 passes throughthe flange of the bearing into the bracket. The bracket has also formedthereon the easing K, for supporting the shaft i and containing thesprin I claim as my invention- 1. In COD'lblllZtillOll, the take-upsweep pivotall y supported, and a spring-pressure plate supported so asto engage with the yarn at all. times for applying a tension thereto,said plate being arranged independent of the sweep and adapted to beautomatically operated by engagement with a portion thereof forlessening the pressure of said plate on the yarn,substantially asdescribed.

In mmbination, the take-up sweep pivotally supported, a spring-pressin-eplate for applying at all times a tension to the yarn, ar-

ranged independent of the sweep and adapted tobe operated thereby tolessen the friction on the yarn, and an adjustable power device forreturning the sweep to normal position, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the sweep having a suitable bearing at its en d thespri ng-plate 5, automatically operated by engagement with a portion ofthe sweep, the shaft 6, for pivotally supporting the sweep, and thespring coiled about said shaft having. one end engaging therewith andthe other end fixed, substantially as described.

4. In combination, the take-up sweep, an independent tension-plate, anindependent spring for giving movement to the sweep, the pull. upon thesaid spring being in the direction of its coils, and means for adjustingthe tension thereof in its relation to the sweep, substantially asdescribed.

5. In combination,the sweep, pivotally supported, a shaft, '1', forsupporting the sweep,-.

and a spring for applying a tension to said shaft, the sweep beingloosely fitted to the shaft and held thereto adj ustabl y by a jamnut,0, whereby the relative positions of the sweep and shaft may be changed,substantially as described.

0. In combination, the sweep, a support, 1', for the sweep, said sweephaving a bearing at its end loosely fitted to the support 1', and aspring coiled about the support for applying a tension to the parts,said support having a suitable thumb-piece, by which it may be turned tochange its position in relation to the sweep, and a jam-nut, fsubstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK \VILCOMB.

\Vitnesses:

GEo. R. Wmson, PETER F. lIUcHEs.

ITS

It is hereby certified that the residence of the assignee in LettersPatent No. 396,907,

granted January 29, 1889, upon the application of Frank Wiloomb, ofProvidence,

Rhode Island, for an improvement in Take-up and Tension Devices forKnitting Machines, was erroneously Written and printed of same place,whereas said residence should have been Written and printed SanFrancisco, California,- and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this correction therein that the same may conform to the record ofthe case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 12th day of February, A. D. 1859.

D. L. HAWKINS, Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

[SEAL] Counter-signed BENTON J. HALL,

Commissioner of Patents.

